Europe's domestic football season has wrapped up. Now all eyes turn to the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League.
Twenty-nine teams have already locked in automatic spots for the competition's new 36-team league phase. They've dodged the grueling qualifying rounds that await others.
Over 80 clubs from UEFA's 55 member nations will compete for places in the tournament. Different qualification pathways will determine who makes the cut based on league finishes and UEFA coefficients.
Preliminary qualifying matches kick off in June 2026. The final will be held at Atlético Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium on June 5, 2027.
The Champions League winners and Europa League winners get automatic berths among the 29 qualifiers. Seven remaining spots will be settled through qualifying rounds and playoffs.
England's contingent includes Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Aston Villa, and Liverpool. Germany qualified Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, and VfB Stuttgart.
Spain's representatives are Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, and Real Betis. Italy sent Inter Milan, Napoli, and Roma to the competition.
France qualified Paris Saint-Germain, RC Lens, and Lille OSC. Porto made it from Portugal while PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord came through for the Netherlands.
Galatasaray represents Turkey in the tournament. SK Slavia Prague qualified from the Czech Republic and Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine.
More clubs will join these 29 when UEFA completes its qualifying and playoff rounds later this year. The final 36-team lineup should be confirmed soon.
